Genome complexity; epigenetics: Lamarck is back (Introduction)

by David Turell , Friday, August 31, 2018, 23:54 (2062 days ago) @ Balance_Maintained

dhw: You claimed that Lamarckian change, as quoted above, fitted Tony’s ideas about species. These include advance planning and new organisms appearing out of nowhere. I have simply pointed out that Lamarckian change, as quoted above, makes no mention of advance planning or of new organisms coming out of nowhere. So how does it fit Tony's ideas about species?

David: Ward's point is some species are really Lamarckian adaptations of existing species and therefore not a new species. Tony's 'staged advances' from existing forms is simply a similar thought pattern I think. The evidence for advanced planning lies in the Cambrian gap in phenotypes.

Tony: Actually, it was more to the point that we are finding fewer 'kinds' and are still able to account for the programmatic variation in a mechanical way. Further, the interplay between genetic stability and epigenetic changes causing the bushy 'leaves' that hid the fact that there are only a few branches is far too complex to not have been designed.

DNA is incredibly complex and informationally dense. Epigenetics will likely prove to be incredibly complex and informationally dense as we understand it more. To have such incredible finesse and control, complete with safeguards and redundancies and repair systems is absolutely not possible by chance.

In the end, we will find periodic creation of flora and fauna in limited branches at the cusp of great atmospheric or geologic changes in which the arriving types play a significant roll in the further development of the earth, such as balancing CO2 and O2 and other gasses in the atmosphere, or perhaps bacteria creating oil resevoirs as a form of planetary lubricant to deal with the internal stresses caused by the start of plate tectonics.

I would lay even money that every single creature on this earth has some role, some fundamental function in the ongoing development of this planet. And that is something that CAN be tested.

I agree with you. The balance between every individual in studies of eco-niches shows that top predators are a requirement, i.e., the wolves of Yellowstone. Everyone at every level has a role to play.